NOCTURNAL

vii | kingdom of wolves

I stared at the face of man sitting across of me. Golden eyes, eyes so serious and eyes so hard stared back at me. He tilted his head making me tilt head to the side. His eyes narrowed, studying me intently and I narrowed mine in response, refusing to back down.

Then just as his gaze turned into a full-on glare, I did what any sensible person would do in a situation like this, I smiled. Not just any smile, but a mockingly sweet one, dripping with sarcasm.

A full-blown laughter boomed across the big private plane, echoing in the confined space like a thunderclap. It caught me off guard as I stared at the now laughing man in front of me.

Cain Abraham, that's what his name was.

That man was trying to intimidate me since he met me, too bad I am freak and freaks don't back down.

His golden eyes softened, the hard edge fading as he shook his head in disbelief. " You really are a Queen." He said, still chuckling, his voice warm with amusement.

Queen, yeah.

When Alexander mentioned his kingdom, I just laughed it off thinking it some kind of jock. It should have a been a jock, but it was not. There really existed a Kingdom of wolves, far away from all of us and hidden from human eyes. How did they manage to keep it hidden? That a story for another time, he had said and the topic was closed.

They never answer me.

 After that night, it only took them two days, only two fucking days to convince my parents that I was given offer to work abroad for early experience along with studies. Vesperus Enterprises apparently was a big thing in the world of business, a name that carried weight and prestige. My parents though suspicious at first, eventually caved.

Maybe it was the way the men in suits spoke with such authority, their words smooth and convincing. Maybe it was the promise of a brighter future, one that seemed too good to pass up. Whatever it was, their initial skepticism melted away and replaced by cautious optimism.

And Mohan's witchism may or may not have something to do with it. 

No, not Mohan but Mikhail.

Next morning I had made sure to get his real name but it was difficult for me to get used to his real name, or rather real name. It was heavier on his previous persona which I was used to but according to Mohan or Mikhail, he preferred his real name over Mohan.

"No shit sherlock." Mikhail rolled his eyes, parched on his seat much far away from me.

And I am still pretty much ignoring him.

"So you and Mohan knew each other from before?" I turned to Alexander, who lounged in his seat even farther away from me.

Much to his displeasure and my wicked pleasure.

He narrowed his eyes at me, at distance between us and my attitude toward him. Well, I think they deserve it. 

I know I should not be ready to move across states with strangers but that night incidence was enough to agree with them a little. Only a little. The rest, it took hell lot of convincing on Mohan, Mikhail's and Alexander's behalf.

And I felt like a real cool bitch doing it.

For two days, they didn't let up. Alexander, with his serious demeanor, outlining every 'logical' reason why this was necessary. Mikhail, using his smooth charm and, possibly and his witchy powers of persuasion. They tag-teamed, relentless until the walls I'd put up started to crack and against my better judgment, I found myself agreeing.